By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

August 5, 2020

If you read my recent article about testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), you know it’s not a magic fix.

In fact, most problems with bedroom performance can actually be traced back to heart disease rather than testosterone deficiency.  And using TRT actually increases your risk of cardiac disease.

It’s bad news all the way around.

I’m no stranger to cardiac disease.  Many men in my family have suffered from heart attacks – my father, uncles, and even my brothers.  It’s one of the main reasons I’m eating a plant-based diet right now.

So, sorry to drop another big bombshell on you regarding your heart…

But, if you have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease – or if your physician believes you are at risk for it – you’re probably taking a testosterone-robbing statin drug.

These cholesterol lowering meds have been pushed really hard in our society. At one point, it was even suggested they be added to our public water supply.

People even floated the idea of including them for free with fast food meals! How’s that for a side order? I’m glad to say, these far-fetched scenarios never came to pass.

Still, statins are one of the most over-prescribed medications in the U.S. At the last count, in 2013, more than one in every four adults over 39 was using a statin drug.

That’s 39.2 million people! I’m sure the number is substantially higher today.

Here’s the thing…

Men are one of the largest groups of statin drug users. And these meds are zapping their testosterone.

You see, cholesterol is a precursor to the production of testosterone. So when you start taking a statin, a decline in both total and free testosterone starts almost immediately.

And in the very first month of statin use, you start losing your most bioavailable testosterone. This is the kind not bound to sexual hormone binding globulin (SHBG).

This makes statins one of the main culprits behind age-related testosterone deficiency.

Now I have a lot to say about statins and why you shouldn’t be taking them. But today, let’s focus on restoring your masculinity.

Give Your Testosterone the Boost it Deserves

In the previous issue you learned how to improve your bedroom performance by boosting your cardiovascular health. If you have heart disease, all of those recommendations are worth noting.

It’s just as crucial to address testosterone deficiency – statin related or not.

As I mentioned earlier, mainstream testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) isn’t the answer. Synthetic, man-made testosterone simply cannot replace your natural male hormones. It’s fake.

So if you’re diagnosed with low T, talk with an integrative physician who specializes in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT.

This type of replacement therapy uses bio-identical hormones. They are exact copies of the hormones your body naturally produces. This means your body will naturally respond to them and give you the results you’re looking for.

As with any hormone replacement therapies, check your levels and go to regular follow up appointments with your prescribing physician.

BHRT is a much safer alternative to mainstream testosterone replacement therapy. It is also more effective and costs less.

You may be taking a statin but not suffering from testosterone deficiency.  In this case, I recommend adding a few supplements to help you maintain levels of this manly hormone.

• There’s an herb called tongkat ali that stimulates the production of testosterone. At the same time, it inhibits This allows more free testosterone to remain in your bloodstream. It only takes 100 mg daily to kick your testosterone levels up.
• Forskolin is another herb that helps increase testosterone values and boost free testosterone levels. In just a few short months, it can boost free testosterone by about three and a half percent. Take 500 mg each day.
• Taking a vitamin D3 supplement in the form of cholecalciferol can increase free testosterone by up to 20%. 1,000 to 2,000 IU each day should do the trick. However, if you’ve been diagnosed as vitamin D deficient (30 or less), I recommend up to 5,000 IU daily…retesting your levels around 3 months later.
• Since diabetes is one of the reasons physicians prescribe statins, it’s a good idea to control your eating habits to maintain your insulin levels within optimal ranges. Not only can healthy glucose and insulin levels get you off statin drugs for good, it also helps keep your SHBG levels lower.

SOURCES:

Ginter E, et al. Addition of statins into the public water supply? Risks of side effects and low cholesterol levels. Cas Lek Cesk. 2012;151(5):243-7.

Ferenczi EA, et al. Can a statin neutralize the cardiovascular risk of unhealthy dietary choices? Am J Cardiol. 2010 Aug 15;106(4):587-92.

Torjesen I. Statins are overprescribed for primary prevention, study suggests.

BMJ 2018;363:k5110.

Salami JA, et al. National Trends in Statin Use and Expenditures in the US Adult Population From 2002 to 2013: Insights From the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. JAMA Cardiol. 2017 Jan 1;2(1):56-65.

de Keyser CE, et al. Use of statins is associated with lower serum total and non-sex hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone levels in male participants of the Rotterdam Study. Eur J Endocrinol. 2015 Aug;173(2):155-65.

Mędraś M, et al. Treatment with statins and testosterone levels in men. Endokrynol Pol. 2014;65(6):464-8.

Mohd Effendy N, et al. Eurycoma longifolia: Medicinal Plant in the Prevention and Treatment of Male Osteoporosis due to Androgen Deficiency. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:125761.

Godard MP, et al. Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men. Obes Res. 2005 Aug;13(8):1335-43.

Pilz S, et al. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. Horm Metab Res. 2011 Mar;43(3):223-5.

Wehr E, et al. Association of vitamin D status with serum androgen levels in men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2010 Aug;73(2):243-8.